Garryduff House

Detached three-bay two-storey over basement Church of Ireland glebe house, extant 1837, on a rectangular plan; three-bay full-height rear (west) elevation. Occupied, 1901; 1911. Hipped slate roof with clay ridge tiles, rendered central chimney stacks having capping supporting yellow terracotta pots, and replacement rainwater goods on thumbnail beaded cornice retaining cast-iron downpipes. Repointed coursed rubble limestone walls originally rendered on cut-limestone chamfered cushion course on rendered plinth with cut-limestone flush quoins to corners; rendered surface finish to rear (west) elevation. Square-headed central door opening with two cut-limestone steps, timber doorcase with panelled pilasters, and cut-limestone surround having moulded reveals with hood moulding framing timber panelled door having sidelights on panelled risers below overlight. Square-headed flanking window openings in tripartite arrangement with cut-limestone chamfered sill course, timber mullions, and repointed surrounds with hood mouldings framing four-over-four timber sash windows without horns. Square-headed window openings (first floor) with cut-limestone sill course, and repointed surrounds with hood mouldings framing three-over-six timber sash windows without horns. Square-headed window openings to rear (west) elevation with cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six (ground floor) or three-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows without horns. Set in landscaped grounds with fluted cylindrical piers to perimeter having stringcourses below lichen-covered domed capping.

A glebe house representing an important component of the early nineteenth-century built heritage of County Kilkenny with the architectural value of the composition confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking gently rolling grounds with a hilly backdrop in the distance; the compact plan form centred on a Classically-detailed doorcase showing a simple "mouthorgan" overlight; and the diminishing in scale of the widely spaced openings on each floor producing a graduated tiered visual effect with the principal "apartments" or reception rooms defined by tripartite glazing patterns. Having been well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior, including shimmering glass in hornless sash frames, thus upholding the character or integrity of the composition. Furthermore, an adjacent coach house-cum-stable outbuilding (----) continues to contribute positively to the group and setting values of a self-contained ensemble having historic connections with the Kilmacahill parish Church of Ireland clergy including Reverend William Lowe Pownall (1818-1907), 'Clergyman' (NA 1901); and Reverend Dallas Alexander O'Connor (1871-1934), 'Clerk in Holy Orders' (NA 1911).